
Professionals include anyone who holds themselves out as an expert in a particular field. Professionals who could be responsible for malpractice include
- doctors,
- dentists,
- lawyers,
- engineers,
- architects,
- psychologists,
- accountants,
- pharmacists,
- financial planners,
- morticians,
- clergy,
- real estate agents,
- and others.
Naturally, these people are not perfect and sometimes mistakes happen. Not every mistake harms a patient or client, or warrants a lawsuit. However, if the malpractice is serious enough to cause harm, and if it wouldn’t have occurred if the professional had been using reasonable care, the professional can be held liable for malpractice.
Some examples of professional malpractice could include a doctor amputating the wrong limb, a financial planner stealing money from his clients, a pharmacist giving a patient the wrong medication, a mortician performing a cremation instead of a burial, a psychologist sexually abusing a vulnerable patient, or a real estate agent failing to disclose a major defect in a home. The malpractice could the result of poor training, a careless mistake, or it could even be intentional.
Professional malpractice cases can often be difficult to prove. Not only must the plaintiff show that the professional committed malpractice, which can often be difficult in highly technical cases, but the plaintiff also must show that he or she was harmed as a result of the malpractice. Unfortunately, in some cases the professional does not have any assets or any malpractice insurance, in which case a lawsuit may be pointless if a financial recovery is sought. A professional malpractice attorney can help guide you on whether or not a lawsuit could help you accomplish your goals.